the Princess Royal is the most frequent visitor to the province whilst Prince William has never made a visit

Mark O

05-26-2008 01:49 PM

No invite to Ireland?

Hi everyone, is there any logical explanation as to why the Queen has never paid a State visit to the Republic of Ireland?.......is it simply because she has never recieved an invitation, or maybe there's a bit more to it than that?

PrinceOfCanada

05-26-2008 02:33 PM

One would imagine that the ongoing state of tensions with regards to Northern Ireland would be the reason. Take a look at the history of Anglo-Irish relations since 1922 (at least!), and you have your answer.

Additionally, security would be an enormous issue. The Provos would have a field day with a visit by HM to Ireland, and while it's true that the IRA has disarmed, I imagine some of the still-extant hardliners wouldn't see too much of a problem with trying something on if she were to visit.

wbenson

05-26-2008 03:10 PM

There's been talk recently of a possible visit next year, but I suspect such rumors abound every year.

PrincessofEurope

05-27-2008 05:56 PM

actually the Irish President has extended an invitation to the Queen to visit on condition that policing and justice powers are devolved to the assembly in northern ireland - that is due to happen at some point in the next year so i guess we will wait and see

the queen probably would never have been welcomed in ireland as tensions remain pretty high about any sort of british influence or control but i guess the time is right now to extend the welcome to her

RoyalProtocol

05-06-2009 01:10 PM

This afternoon Her Majesty and His Royal Highness arrived in Londonderry at the begining of a Royal visit to Northern Ireland

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II speaks to student Stacy Long during a
visit to the dental room of Lisneal College in Londonderry, Northern
Ireland, on 06 May, 2009. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh
arrived in the British province for a three-day visit.

I don't think that the gentleman on pic 2 ever dreamed of meeting
the Queen in a situation like this...;)